To celebrate Everton in the Community’s 30th anniversary, the charity’s PL Kicks team joined up with the Palace for Life Foundation for a special, one-off match.

The game took place on the morning of February 10, coinciding with the Premier League tie between the two sides later that afternoon at Goodison Park.

PL Kicks is a youth outreach programme that uses the power of football and the value of sports participation to help hard-to-reach youngsters in some of the highes-need areas.

The programme has engaged with over 200,000 young people across the country since it began in 2006.

Following the game between the two sides, both groups had the opportunity to experience Premier League football first-hand, as they headed to Goodison Park to support their respective clubs in the game, that ended 3-1 to Everton.

Community cohesion manager at Everton in the Community, Zac Taylor, added: “Through Adam [Fenlon] a Police Community Support Officer, Everton in the Community have developed a great relationship with Palace for Life over the last few years.

“We are delighted that they were able to bring a team to play us in a Kicks fixture and join us in celebrating our 30th anniversary.

“It was a fantastic opportunity for young people of two different cities to come together, play football and attend a Premier League football match.”

Mr Fenlon, New Addlington’s Police community support officer, who has worked closely with both Everton’s official charity and the Palace for Life Foundation, helped to arrange the trip.

He said: “The day was a great success, Everton in the Community were fantastic hosts.

The size of Everton in the Community was eye-opening for both the Kicks team and myself: I think the lads had a good time seeing how another football foundation in a completely different area works.”